Brewers' Lectures 2024

On 6 March, the Master, James Staughton, and St Austell Brewery’s Brewing Director, George Young, opened the door on careers in brewing for students at Dame Alice Owen’s and Aldenham Schools.

The annual Brewers’ Lectures for Sixth Formers at the schools supported by the Brewers’ Company aim to encourage the students to consider careers in the brewing and hospitality industries. This year, the Master gave the students a whistlestop tour of the history of St Austell Brewery and its pubs, and highlighted the economic and social contribution of breweries and pubs with statistics that are worth remembering:

• Over 936,000 jobs in towns and communities throughout the UK
• £26.2 billion to the national economy
• £15 billion in tax revenues
• 85% of pubs in the UK are run as SMEs
• Over 80% of beer sold in the UK is produced domestically, with strong domestic supply chains
• Brewers export to over 100 countries with a value over £500 million
• Two-thirds of alcoholic drinks sold in pubs are beer, making it an integral part of pubs’ offering
• 75% of Brits feel pubs have a positive effect in communities
• 81% of Brits say pubs are important in bringing people together
• 68% of Brits think pubs help combat loneliness in their local area
• £100m raised per year for charity
• Beer is the lowest strength alcoholic beverage available and has the widest range of no-and low-alcohol alternatives

George Young then explored some of the science of brewing, describing the main ingredients of beer and explaining the brewing process. She went on to introduce some of the many career opportunities in the industry, as well as the potential paths to access them, both through higher education and apprenticeship schemes.

The students were engaged and enthusiastic at both schools and we hope that many of them will have been inspired to look more deeply into the exciting career prospects that the brewing and hospitality industries have to offer.